Art of obtaining motive power



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-,Sheet 1.

G. J. ALTHAM. ART 0F OBTAINING MOTIVI: POWER.

No. 448,621. Patented Mar. 17, 1891.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. J. ALTHAM. ART 0F OBTAINING TIVE POWER.

110.448,621. 1 tented Mar. 17, 1891.

lINTTED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

GEORGE J. ALTHAM, OF SWANSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

ART OF OBTAINING MOTIVE POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,621, dated March 17, 1891. Application led January 3, 1891. Serial No. 376,584. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. ALTHAM, of Swansea, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art of Obtaining Motive Power, (for which Iihave made application for Letters Patent of Oanada,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention is based upon the principles expressed in the natural laws that when a tluid escapes from an orifice its Whole potential energy becomes kinetic, that the kinetic energy of the same weight'of fluid increases as the square of the velocity of the fluid, and that the velocity ot' a fluid-jet issuing Linder pressure from a vessel is inversely as the square root of its density.

The process consists in reducing the density of a fluid by intermixing at the same or approximately the same pressure a second Huid of less density, so that the energy of' the lighter fluid may be imparted to the heavier fluid, transforming the original pressure or po` tential energy of the several fluids into velocity or kinetic energy of the mixture,increasing the pressure and separating the mixture by means oi' centrifugal force, which is accomplished by reason of the energy of the lighter liquid having been imparted to the heavier, and utilizing the increased pressure by its employment as power for mechanical and other purposes.

The invention also consists of steps which accomplish complete results in the process before recited. In the practice of the invention the fluids employed may be both liquid or both gaseous, or one liquid and the other gaseous, so that the iiuid of lighter density may be capable of intermixture with the denser.

`In the practical operation ot this process I prefer to use as the heavier uid a liquid of high vaporizing point, as oil or glycerine, as a more efficient working agent and to avoid loss by vaporization, as this lsame body of liquid is used over and over again in a cycle of operations7 (though other fluids may be used,) and to use as the lighter or intermixing fluid,preferably at the same (though it may be different) pressure, a gas generated by the combustion of hydrocarbon or other combusti- I ble matter or by other natural means, though other suitable lighter fluid may be employed.

In its simplest form the apparatus for applying the process may consist of two chambers, one of which,called the receiver, contains the supply of liquid ready for use, and the other, called the discharge-chamber, contains the spent liquid which is discharged from the motor; a nozzle which the liquid enters on leaving the first chamber or receiver and through which it is discharged'by the combined action of the and the pressure of liquid in the receiver, the gas being also introduced at the nozzle; stationary chutes connected to the end of the discharge-tube, by means of which the proper direction is given to the discharging` liquid, and a reactionwheel which revolves around the chutes and serves as a motor. The interior of' the Wheel communicates with the atmosphere, while the exterior is in free communication with the second or outlet chamber of' the appartus.

In the process of operation the liquid from the receiving-chamber and the gas for intermixing enter the nozzle together and are thoroughly mixed in their passage through, the pressure being slightly reduced by suitable interior construction to allow their thoroughly mixing and the potential energy formerly stored up in the gas, and liquid under pressure is gradually converted into kinetic energy, which appears in the form of velocity imparted to the whole mass. The mixture of liquid and gas by this action is finally discharged from the chutes at a high velocity, though under a pressure which is little, if any, above the atmosphere. The discharge from the chutes takes place into an annular chamber at the inner rim of the wheel, which chamber revolves at approximately the vclocity of' the mixture issuing from the chutes. The centrifugal force caused by the revolution of the wheel separates the liquid and the gas, the liquid moving radially outward and the gas remaining in the interior. The thickness of the stratum of the liquid at the rim'ot the wheel must be graduated to produce the requisite velocity of the wheel so as to avoid loss of power. The gas, after separation,` passes out through the open communication to the atmosphere, while the liquid proceedsthrough the curved passages vin the wheel and by force of reaction, as in a tur- IOS bine water-wheel, the wheel is made to revolve. Although the pressure of the liquid at its discharge from the chutes has all been converted into velocity, a new and greatly increased pressure underthe action of centrifugal force or tendency is exerted in the stratum ot liquid in the wheel, and when the liquid is discharged from the wheel this pressure is reduced to the original pressure ot' the gas and extends throughout the outlet-chamber and back into the first or receiving chamber. The whole apparatus is therefore under a pressure equal to that ot the gas, excepting the interior of the wheel and the passage between the nozzle and the end of the chutes.

Having referred to the principles on which the new motor works, the actual apparatus may now be described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, ot which Figure l is a longitudinal section through the whole apparatus. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the wheel on the line 2 2,Fig. l. Fig. is a detail section taken on the line 3 3, Fig. i. Figs. -l and 5 are detail views of the discharge-chutes. Fig. G is a sectional detail taken on the line 6 6, Fig. l. Fig. 7 is a sectional detail of the end of a gas-admitting tube drawn to an enlarged scale.

rlhe apparatus is inclosed in a cylindrical vessel, which is provided with a head at each end, both of which are closed, with the exception of the openings for the shaft and tubes, hereinafter mentioned. This vessel is divided into two chambers b and c, which communicate with each other by an opening at the bottom at the point el. Vhen the apparatus is in workin g order, the receiver-chamber b is filled with the liquid, which operates the motor, and the discharge-chamber c is empty, with the exception of the spent liquid which is on its way back to the receiverchamber. The part whichI term the nozzle, through which the liquid and gas enter, is shown at e f g, which is separated from the tube 7i, into which the mixture of liquid and gas is discharged by means of a gate t'. The nozzle is composed of two distinct parts, the chambers e and 7U' and the chambers Z and g. The chambers c and k receive the gas from the outside of the apparatus through appropriate tubes. rlhc chamber Z is in free communication with the receiver-chamber b, and receives liquid from that point. The chamber l gradually converges to the point f, where there is an opening between the chamber k and the tube 72, which completely encircles the tube. One supply of gas escapes into the tube from this opening, and a second supply is furnished from the chamber c by means of a number of small tubes m, which extend from the chamber c to the point f. These tubes, which are distributed at uniform distances throughout the whole space, (in the manner shown in cross-section in the detailed drawing, Fig. 0,) are closed at the ends, and the gas escapes trom them into the chamber Z through small holes n, Fig: 7, drilled in the circumference of the tube m. These holes are located as nearly opposite as may be to the circular outlet of the chamber f. Beyond these openings each gas-tube is extended a certain distance and drawn down to a point shown at o, and by this means the space extending from the pointf to the point g gradually enlarges in cross-section. By this arrangement ot the nozzle from f to g the velocity of the liquid asit traverses this section is reduced, and a certain amount of kinetic energy takes the form of a reduction of pressure, which at once causes the aeriform fluids to flow in and intimately mingle with the liquid, and the mixture then issues into the parallel or converging tube or a combined parallel and converging tube h. In this tube the potential energy of the liquid and gas is converted into the kinetic energy of motion vand the mixture passes through the tube h at a gradually-increasing velocity, on the principle that a liuid flowing toward an area of reduced pressure will throw its whole energy into velocity. The nozzle and the tube h are held stationary in the partition which separates the chamber C from the chamber D. The direction of the nozzle and tube with reference to the axis of the motor is somewhat inclined, so as to facilitate discharge trom the tube to the wheel p. At the end of the tube h an outlet piece or chute q, as it may be called, is attached for the purpose of guiding the discharge of liquid and gas in the proper direction as it is supplied to the wheel p.

The apparatus here shown contains a double wheel,the main wheel being the inner one p and the supplementary wheel the outer one q. The wheel p is provided with a bellshaped cover r at the inlet end, which sur` rounds the tube 7L, and at the extreme end it is provided with a packing-box s, which seals the communication at that point with the chamber c, and at the same time forms a rollerbearing on which the inner end is supported and turned. The opposite end of the wheel p is closed in by means of the casing t, which is prevented from communicating with the chamber c by means ot` another packing-box tt, and this casing also serves for a support and bearing for this end ol the wheel. The interior of the bearing at this end communicates with the atmosphere, as at. v, by which means the whole interior w of the wheel p is likewise open to the atmosphere. The base of this wheel, referring to Fig. 2, contains a number ot radial openings Qc, which extend nearly through to the periphery of the wheel, each terminating in a tangential tube y, the outlet of this tube having a direction which lies in a tangent to the periphery of the wheel. The mixture of liquid and gas discharged from the chute collects in the annular space z, which is close to the inside circle of the wheel p, and here the gas which has been previously mixed with the liquid is separated by the centrifugal tendency of the liquid and ICO IIO

IZO

escapes from the liquid at its interior surface. From the point e the liquid thus separated passes outward through the openings a; into the tangential tubes y. Here by force of reaction the escape of the liquid causes the wheel p to revolve.

In the form shown in Fig. 2 the tangential tubes y are tted as aspirators arranged at such an angle as will enable the fluids to pass through them in a line nearly rightand radial when the instrument is operating, in order that very little centrifugal force may be imparted to the fiuids by the revolution of the apparatus,and tothe endthattheintimate mixture of air and the comparatively heavy liquid may not be disturbed by the centrifugal force they are composed of two parts separated by an4 opening communicating with an exterior chamber a', encircling the tube y. This exterior chamber is placed at the point of smallest section of the aspirator,the section grad ually decreasing in area from each end up to this point. The encircling chamber a communicates by means of the pipes b with the tube c', (shown in Fig. 1,) and therebythrough a check-valve d to the atmosphere.

The object of the aspirators is to draw in air by the suction produced by the passage of the liquid through the aspirator, and thereby secure a mixture of air and liquid on its passage from the tangential tubes. This air, it may be remarked, is drawn in for the purpose of providing a supply of air under pressure to be used in a separate apparatus for the oxidation ofa hydrocarbon under pressure for working the motor when that gas is one formed ldy combustion in the exterior vessel.

lVhcn the aspirators are used in connection with the apparatus,the air passed through the wheel q into chamber c maintains a sufiicient working-pressure, and when the apparatus is worked without the aspirators the` working-pressure is maintained by introducing the steam or gas into the chamber c, in which chamber I preferably apply and maintain the pressure. The second Wheel q completely surrounds the inner wheel 2J and revolves upon roller-bearings in a similar manner to the plan carried out for the inner wheel. rlhe employment of this Wheel when its use is desirable furnishes a means for taking power in varying quantities or none at all without affecting the operation of the inner wheel, and enables that portion of the energy of the liquid which has not been given out to the inner wheelp to be utilized. The liquid or mixture of liquid and air escaping from the tangential tubes 03 y of the inner wheel enters the tubes e', contained in the outer wheel, an d these tubes are so shaped that the liquid lakes an opposite turn (as indicated by the arrows) and escapes inta the chamber c through the opening j". Bythis means the outerwheel revolves in the same direction as the inner wheel, but at a greatly-reduced speed. The passage of the liquid through the two wheels under the action of the centrifugal tendency enables the liquid to he discharged from the outer wheel under the full pressure of the chamber c, which also corresponds to that in chamberb, minus the pressure due to the column ot' liquid in the said chamber h, and at the same time without any velocity relatively to the earth. The liquid on its escape from the outer wheel drops to the bottom of the chamber c, and in the end finds its Way back to the chamber l), from which it started, by reason of air-pre-ssure from the aspirators in the chamber c, which pressure is sufficiently greater than the pressure in chamber h to force the water therein through the passage d.

If, as in the apparatus here shown, the liquid is discharged with air drawn in by the use of the aspirators, the air on its escape to the chamber c is immediately separated from the liquid and is carried off through a pipe attached to the chamber b. The motion of the outer wheelq is communicated to the outside of the apparatus by means of a gear g', attached to the hub of the outer wheel, which works in a gear h', attached to the drivingshaft i.

The packing-boxes s a at the two ends of the inner wheel are self-packing. There is a ground-joint j' between the end of the hub and the face of the packing. The packing is threaded upon the frame and somewhat loosely fitted, so that when revolved upon the thread it moves toward or away from the joint, as the case may be. The spiral spring Z encircles the frame, being securely attached thereto at one end and being attached at the other end to the packing. By suitable tension on this spring this arrangement provides thatthe packing shall always be forced against the joint with sufficient pressure to overcome the friction, and thereby always to maintain a tight joint.

In starting the machine pressure is applied to the chamber c, which pressure may be for instance air-pressure, and may be introduced through any suitable aperture-as, for instance, the tube a?.

I claiml. The art of obtaining motive power from fluids, which consists in reducing the density of a fluidby intermixing therewith a second fiuid of less density, both under pressure, whereby the energy of the lighter iiuid may be imparted to the heavierfluid by permitting the fiow of the fluids so intermiXed toward a space of less pressure, as set forth.

2. The art of obtaining motive power from fluids, which consists in reducing the density of a fluid by interinixing therewith a second fluid of less density, both Linder pressure, whereby the energy of the lighter fluid may be imparted to the heavier fluid by permitting the flow of the fluids so intermixed toward a space of less pressure, separating the fluids and increasing the pressure of the heavier fluid by centrifugal tendency, as set forth.

3. The art of obtaining motive power from IOO IIO

fluids, which consists in imparting the energy of a lighter fluid to a heavier fluid, permitting the energy to take the form of' velocity, and transforming the velocity of the heavier' fluid into pressure by centrifugal tendency, as set forth.

-l-. The art of obtaining' motive power from fluids, which consists in imparting the energy of alighter fluid to a heavier fluid, permitting the energy to take the form of velocity, separating the fluids and discharging the fluid of lighter density and transforming the velocity of' the heavier fiuid into pressure by centrifugal tendency, as set forth.

5. The art of obtaining motive power from fluids, which consists in imparting the energy ot' a lighter fluid to a heavier fluid, permitting' the energy to take the form of velocity, separating the fluids and discharging the fluid of lighter density and transforming the velocity of' the heavier fluid into pressure by centrifugal tendency, and employing the pressure as a source of power, as set forth.

0. The art of obtaining motive power from fluids, which consists in imparting the energy of a lighter fluid to a heavier fiuid, permitting the energy to take the form of velocity, separating the fluids and discharging the fluid of lighter density and transforming the velocity of the heavier fluid into pressure by centrifugal tendency and employing the pressure as a source of power, and returning the said heavier liquid to be again energized, as set forth.

7. The art of obtaining motive power from fluids, which consists in reducing the density of a fluid by intcrmixing the same with a lighter fluid, both under pressure, transforming the potential energy of the mixture into kinetic energy, developing the kinetic energy of the mixture into pressure of the heavier liquid, and at the same time restoring the original density of the heavier liquid, as set forth.

8. The art of' obtaining motive power from fluids` which consists in reducing the density of a fluid by intermixing the same with a lighter fluid, both under pressure, transforming the potential energy ot' the mixture into kinetic energy, developing the kinetic energy liquid and at the same time restoring theA original density of the heavier liquid, and employing the pressure as a source of power, and returning the heavier liquid to be used again, as set forth.

10. The art of obtaining motive power from fluids, which consists in imparting the energy of a lighter fluid to a heavier fluid, permitting the energy to take the form of velocity, separating the fluids and discharging the fluid of lighter density and transforming the velocity of the heavier fluid into pressure by centrifugal tendency, employing the pressure as a source of power, intermixing air with the liquid, and permitting the air to be discharged with the liquid, as set forth.

ll. The art of obtaining motive power from fluids, which consists in imparting the energy of a lighter fluid to a heavier fluid, permitting the energy to take the form of velocity, separating the fluids and discharging the fluid of lighter density and transforming the velocity ot the heavier fluid into pressure by centrifugal tendency, employing the pressure as a source of power, compressing 'air to the working pressure of the apparatus by intermiXing the air with the liquid, and permitting the air to be discharged therewith, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 23d day of December, A. D. 1890.

GEORGE J. ALTI IAN.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. CRossLEv, ICwING W. IIAMLEN. 

